Monday, 24 October 2011

As those of you regularly
read my blog know I have quite the affinity with paper (irony not lost typing
this on an iPad) & the wonderful things that it can do when manipulated by
the right person.

Dame di Cartone, 17th Century I

Christian Tagliavini

With Christian Tagliavini's
show looming in the near distance I have been reminded of the work using paper
as a subject or material in photography that I have come across over the years
and why those images had such an impression upon me at the time & still do
now.

The first thing to grasp is
why looking at paper is so satisfying? Surely something that is so intrinsic to
our lives (despite attempts to create paper free offices, stick to computers)
we still gear paper receipts for goods, mail throughmour letterboxes, (not to
mention junk mail) newspapers, books etc.... The list is endless and countless
alternatives are being conceived of as I write. BUT, it's still here!

Am I right in thinking that
I am being somewhat nostalgic by enjoying paper for what it is, an object that
can be held? Easier on the eyes than a bright screen (yes I know the Kindle
tries to compete here) but you can't smell a screen (yet). It has been proven
that neurologically the smell of aging paper actually releases a scent that we
are biologically attracted to (this is something that second hand bookshops
have relied upon for years) & of course smell is always linked to memory.
Is it the association with knowledge? Who can say.

All I know is I love the
stuff, to look at, smell, touch & play with. As one of the few (well it
seems like a rare thing to do in our contemporary streamlined world) people who
still write letters to friends on a weekly basis, I am an avid purchaser of paper,
fountain pen cartridges & always keep my eyes peeled for something unusual
to write letters on or adapt to write on in order to vary the experience for
both myself & the recipient. Perhaps this is why I love to look at a good
image where paper has been used in a new & interesting way.

I also do collage, so more
about this later....

So where to begin? Without
a doubt it has to be the great Frederick Sommer.

Here he is:

Not sure who took this as I
found it online, but it is a lovely portrait of the great man.

Followed by a wonderful
image of him at work. What is great about finding this is the scale of his
paper, which when photographed seems much smaller & intimate.

'Cut - Paper' is well worth hunting down.

Well known in the USA, but
lesser known here in the UK I am always singing his praises when it comes to
suggesting great still life ideas. Through the simple act of cutting paper
& using the light & shadow upon it he can celebrate the way in which
the paper looks & even behaves as it curls upwards. Proving that the
simplicity of this idea & lack of pretension can result in this dramatic
way of seeing something so simple with such appreciative clarity to open up the
eyes of others who see it.

Sommer's talent for literally playing with perspective is exhibited beautifully here:

His work has had a great
influence on other photographer's, no doubt an influence on a living
photographer - better known for his camera obscura - Abelardo Morell.

Alice in Wonderland has been used by so many artists I can barely
count them all. Testament to the prolonged fascination with the themes in the
book & the artwork that illustrates it, here Morell literally brings the
book 'to life' through a careful combination of sculptural collage &
cinematic lighting to enhance the spectacle which can be found within the books
pages. Reminiscent of Victorian paper theatres, such a s this one:

Morell's still life work is
also stunning. This beautiful image is a reminder of why we just love the book
as an object, not just for what is contained within. The comforting repetition
of multiple bent pages, belie a sculptural tactile beauty, mixed with the
sadness of a book in obvious distress! Well worth it for the image? I'll let
you decide that one.

Then of course I couldn't
talk about paper without mentioning Thomas Allen, whose work crosses over some
of my own art practice (more about that in the future) using books to create
diorama's from pulp fiction titles & old copies of books to great effect:

I thought this is another
perfect example of his work, this time with a fitting Halloween feel...

Laura Noble

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About Laura

Laura Noble is a London based Gallerist.
Author of 'The Art of Collecting Photography' and primary essays in the following monographs: 'Crazy God' by Yvonne De Rosa, 'Chrysalis' & 'Circus' by Anderson & Low, 'London' by Lluis Real.
Contributor to magazines including: Eyemazing, Snoecks, LIP, Photoicon, Image, Next Level, Foam & Leisure Center.
Editor at Large for Photoicon Magazine.
Director of L A Noble Gallery